A slightly depleted FF fleet started a windward-leeward (Rebbecks (P) - N (P)) course after a lack of wind had enticed several of the fleet back to the shore. The ones who endured the delay in light airs (foolhardy or optimistic?!) started the race in a decent 10 Knot South-Westerly. The line was quite heavily port-biased, with an outbound tide holding us back. Steve & Huw (4019) were kind to us (in 3966) and tacked onto port in time to save compromising our start, so all of the fleet set off up-tide towards Poole Quay.

The course was relatively short as the original intention had been to send us to Balls Lake twice, in lieu of a bay race. We arrived at Rebbecks with a tide trying its best to make rounding it a challenge from either tack. We overstood it on starboard and managed a good rounding, following 4019, and 4114 just leading. The port run took us across the harbour to a special mark laid towards Christopher Head, in line with a trio of XODs, just close enough to make it interesting. The general route was to gybe about three-quarters of the way down and drop/gybe round the mark. Martin & Ian (3936 - two helms in one boat …. ) made this look like hard work on both circuits, letting us through to third.

The beat back up to Rebbecks took us all up the right-hand side of the course, avoiding the still ebbing tide with a last dash across to Rebbecks, trying to accommodate for the magic carpet pushing us right to left. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the course and its short length, as we arrived at the mark for our second pass, the Wayfarers joined us on their first. Thankfully for us we had already negotiated the mark, but there was quite a kerfuffle behind as a port Wayfarer and FF tried to get around Rebbecks as 4115 (Ian and Kim) were approaching on starboard. This did not work out well. There was the mother and father of all crunches that resulted in two sizeable holes in the gunwale and hull of Ian and Kim's pristine boat. Allegedly the two culprits got away relatively unscathed, with turns done to exonerate themselves. A sobering bill may follow ….

We made our way back down the track with the breeze still holding up, but Richard & Jack (4114) and Steve & Huw (4019) were just out of reach. It was all to play for with Martin & Ian (3936), who made the strategic call to fluff the kite drop, just to get out of writing this report! I had considered just writing - "Dear reader, please refer to the YouTube footage" but convinced myself that that would not really suffice!

So, the race was short but worth the wait. A real shame that there was a double collision but all boats involved will survive the experience. Thanks to Peter Loretto and his race team for postponing until the wind arrived. To those few sailors who went in early, I can't really blame you, but ultimately you missed a really pleasant sail!!

Course - Rebbecks (P) - N Special mark (P) x 2
Wind - SW 10 - 16 Knots

1 - 4114 (Richard & Jack)
2 - 4019 (Steve & Huw)
3 - 3966 (Richard & Alan)
4 - 3936 (Martin & Ian)
5 - 4027 (Mike & Dave)
6 - 4101 (Crispin & Steve)
7 - 4115 (Ian & Kim)
8 - 3922 (Peter & Andrew)